My name is Henry and I’m nearly 68 years old, born and raised in Dublin in the Inchicore and Bluebell areas and the last 40 years in Tallaght. I started work on the weekend of my 14th birthday and worked since then, but for a few months in 1982, up until 2010 when my working life ceased due to an accident at work. Since then I seemed to be living in a bubble. I lost contact with friends, I stopped going out, and I just became isolated.
In November 2017 my wife told me about a men’s club that just started in our area. So I joined the group and really enjoyed it. However I had some difficulty settling in, because of my lack of confidence etc.
During December 2017 we had a visit from Catherine to talk to us about the Heads Up programme starting in our centre in early 2018. She explained a lot about the programme and what was involved, and I was quite interested in it. After a few weeks I heard that the course had already started so I asked the girls in the centre if they could arrange for me to get on it and there was a place. Catherine rang and invited me down and I also had a call from another facilitator to talk and reassure me about the programme. I started the following week.
I arrived quite apprehensive; however there was a warm welcome which made me feel quite at ease. It blossomed from there. There was a variety of men in the group, from different backgrounds… some well educated men, some long time workers, some with physical health issues and they all ranged in age from 18 to 82 years but everybody had their own reason for being there. We got on very well and partook in all of the different modules and outings with great enthusiasm.
We learned about services in our areas, visited and received treatments… we did things I never thought I would do. All the time the focus was on the wellbeing of the entire group, looking after you both physically and mentally – doing mindfulness meditation, Yoga and Gym and much much more.
The facilitators were excellent and treated everybody the same. If someone was having a bad day one of them would spend time with him and try to talk in a way they could relate. I got a great amount from it including being pointed towards support by both the group and one to one with the facilitators. It was a morale and confidence booster. I would recommend the Heads Up to any man. You don’t have to be in crisis or anything like that, you just have to be present and the benefits will follow and I will guarantee you will get a lot from it.
I have since gone on and completed a course in peer support for the Heads Up just to welcome new members get familiar with the programme to reduce any fears and reluctance they might have and be there for them if they have a problem. I am hoping to continue on with these courses and someday help out on the Heads Up programme more hands on.
I have learned and continue to grow in myself expression without any fear of contradiction or scorn and hope it is sooner rather than later that I have the gift of full expression. You don’t have to have suffered from mental illness or be in a mental health crisis to do the programme it’s aimed at all men and all ages it’s about wellbeing.